Horrified onlookers say a man suspected of being homeless was 'brutally assaulted' outside the Value Village store in Langley City over a stolen pair of jeans on Tuesday, May 12.
Witness Sue Bentley was just leaving the store with her daughter when a fight broke out behind them.
"It was so shocking and so horrible," said Bentley.
A loss prevention officer allegedly tackled the man to the ground, repeatedly putting him in a choke hold and the scuffle ensued for some time, said several witnesses.
"A crowd had formed around them and we were all asking the security guard to let him go but he wouldn't."
It was seniors day and very busy.
Bentley's daughter Helen said the loss prevention officer knocked the man down on the ground so hard his head hit the concrete with a thud.
"I offered to pay for the jeans but the guy just wouldn't stop beating on him," said Helen.
They are worried about the wellbeing of the injured man who may be suffering a concussion and other injuries.
It doesn't appear he was looked at by paramedics.
Another man who videotaped the incident said the loss prevention officer smashed the homeless man's face into the ground and he looked like he was"'hurt bad."
Some witnesses said the man wasn't resisting arrest.
Police were called and did arrest the man for theft, but released him shortly afterwards.
Value Village said the loss prevention officer's behaviour was not following their procedures to handle theft.
“We are aware of an unfortunate incident that took place at our Langley store and have co-operated with law enforcement in their investigation," said Value Village spokesperson Sara Gaugl. "The incident involved a third party loss prevention officer that was operating outside of Value Village’s code of conduct. This type of behaviour is not tolerated by our company.”
Value Village is deferring to the outside security agency as to whether the man will be fired or not.
He will not be working at any Value Village, said Gaugl.
Langley RCMP Sgt. Alex Borden looked into the incident and said the man who was held didn't lay a complaint with police about his treatment by the security officer. Police did take witnesses' names and phone numbers.
"As of this time, no further investigating will take place," said Borden on Thursday.
However, a case is never closed, he added. If witnesses are concerned about the level of force used against the man, they should contact Langley RCMP to make a statement.
"We have the man's information so we can re-open this file and re-interview him," he said.
Already one witness has filed a letter of concern about the loss prevention officer's actions.